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Securing Fourchon no small task

Published: Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 21, 2013 at 11:35 a.m.

When guarding an area the size of Port Fourchon, it helps to learn as one goes.

Securing the port is a joint effort encompassing local, state and federal agencies. Those agencies are aided by smart cameras that actually “learn” the norm to draw the attention of authorities when things go differently.

“The popular belief is because we are a port we only have to patrol water,” said Chief of Harbor Police Jon Callais. “But the majority of our force has to patrol land.”

Callais said water patrols preventing ship damage and environmental pollution is part of their task, but most of the police are focused on dry ground.

The port serves as the staging point for much of the Gulf’s energy exploration and production. The sheer amount of money passing through port facilities adds to the security challenge.

“It’s in the hundreds of millions in equipment that is coming in and out of the port and being laid down for a day or two or three before it gets on a vessel,” said Greater Lafourche Port Commission Director Chett Chiasson.

Callais said theft is the most common concern, though police must also respond to calls about fighting and other crimes that go along with alcohol consumption. The port leases land to companies. The companies are responsible for securing their property, but the local police force also patrols the leased property, Callais said.

“We have to be vigilant for those looking to make an extra dollar. There are bad apples out there looking to line their pockets,” Callais said.

April Danos, the port’s information technology director, said authorities are aided by the port’s adaptive surveillance system.

The port has about 50 cameras always watching. While the cameras watch, they are also learning using the surveillance system’s behavioral analytics system, Danos said.

Ray Cavanagh, vice-president of Crescent Guardian, the security contractor that installed the system, said as the cameras watch, they recognize patterns and “learn what is typical behavior” for the area under surveillance.

In the past, cameras could pick up on abnormalities but had to be programmed to watch for a specific event in order to issue an alert.

“What makes this software unique is that it learns the behavior,” Cavanagh said.

As it learns, the system sends alerts to port security when something out of the ordinary occurs.

“It could be as simple as a person putting something underneath the platform and walking away,” Cavanagh said.

Crescent Guardian was recognized by the Louisiana Technology Council for its implementation of the system.

Danos noted the behavioral analytics system hasn’t yet foiled a major crime, but the cameras come in handy proving who damaged a particular piece of property.

<p>When guarding an area the size of Port Fourchon, it helps to learn as one goes. </p><p>Securing the port is a joint effort encompassing local, state and federal agencies. Those agencies are aided by smart cameras that actually “learn” the norm to draw the attention of authorities when things go differently. </p><p>“The popular belief is because we are a port we only have to patrol water,” said Chief of Harbor Police Jon Callais. “But the majority of our force has to patrol land.”</p><p>Callais said water patrols preventing ship damage and environmental pollution is part of their task, but most of the police are focused on dry ground. </p><p>The port serves as the staging point for much of the Gulf's energy exploration and production. The sheer amount of money passing through port facilities adds to the security challenge.</p><p>“It's in the hundreds of millions in equipment that is coming in and out of the port and being laid down for a day or two or three before it gets on a vessel,” said Greater Lafourche Port Commission Director Chett Chiasson.</p><p>Callais said theft is the most common concern, though police must also respond to calls about fighting and other crimes that go along with alcohol consumption. The port leases land to companies. The companies are responsible for securing their property, but the local police force also patrols the leased property, Callais said. </p><p>“We have to be vigilant for those looking to make an extra dollar. There are bad apples out there looking to line their pockets,” Callais said. </p><p>April Danos, the port's information technology director, said authorities are aided by the port's adaptive surveillance system.</p><p>The port has about 50 cameras always watching. While the cameras watch, they are also learning using the surveillance system's behavioral analytics system, Danos said. </p><p>Ray Cavanagh, vice-president of Crescent Guardian, the security contractor that installed the system, said as the cameras watch, they recognize patterns and “learn what is typical behavior” for the area under surveillance. </p><p>In the past, cameras could pick up on abnormalities but had to be programmed to watch for a specific event in order to issue an alert.</p><p>“What makes this software unique is that it learns the behavior,” Cavanagh said. </p><p>As it learns, the system sends alerts to port security when something out of the ordinary occurs. </p><p>“It could be as simple as a person putting something underneath the platform and walking away,” Cavanagh said. </p><p>Crescent Guardian was recognized by the Louisiana Technology Council for its implementation of the system. </p><p>Danos noted the behavioral analytics system hasn't yet foiled a major crime, but the cameras come in handy proving who damaged a particular piece of property.</p>